The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has placed its General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal on compulsory retirement after serving the Union over 42 years.
The Union has also set up an administrative probe into his assets and those of Accountant Comrade Evaristus Njoku across Abuja and beyond.
The move comes amid escalating tensions, as police quizzed NUP National President Comrade Godwin Abumisi over alleged signature forgery on union documents. Abumisi was released after giving a statement at a police office in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists at NUP headquarters, Abumisi, flanked by other officials of the union, defended the retirement, citing public service rules and union reforms adopted at the quadrennial delegates conference in Kano on April 16, 2025.
“Our General Secretary was answering ‘Chief Executive Officer,’ making himself the boss of the President,” Abumisi said. “The National Executive Council, NEC, filled gaps in our constitution.” He further said: “I’ve never seen anywhere in the world where staff don’t retire.”
The Zal’s retirement notice, dated February 3, 2026, partly read: “I am pleased to notify you of your compulsory retirement, having served the Union for over 42 years and attained over 65 years of age… You have outshot the retirement regulations as obtainable in the Nigerian Public Service, which puts retirement at 35 years of service or 60 years of age, whichever comes first.”
Abumisi, however, stated that when Zal, was summoned in the morning with state officers present, he allegedly refused to collect the letter, calling it “illegalities.”
“Retirement is a condition of service for every staff in Nigeria. I don’t know why anybody would consider this an illegality,” he added
The NUP President said after the letter was refused by the General Secretary, he directed that it should be pasted on Zal’s door and sent via WhatsApp, adding that the accountant, Njoku has been reassigned to Ibadan office pending the probe.
Abumisi dismissed forgery claims and accused Zal of single-handedly managing accounts from 2021-2025 without consultation:”
He said the General Secretary wrote a petition to the police that led to him being whisked away for questioning.
On the unions Constitution that was recently withdrawn from the ministry of labour and employment after it had been gazzetted, the NUP President said its team of lawyers was working on it.
Abumisi thanked President Tinubu for releasing ₦58 billion for 32,000 pension increases and ₦758 billion for accrued rights.
